After a year away from the NFL, Lovie Smith has brought a whole new energy to Tampa,
Michael Silver writes.
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Now in Tampa, McCown has gone from working with one of professional football's great offensive minds to one of the NCAA's most widely respected quarterback gurus of the past two decades in offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford.

Smith then flew Tedford to Chicago to see if their philosophies would mesh.

"Hey, we were both unemployed," Smith explained to Silver. "He's got a long history of (developing) guys who made it to this league. Also, I knew he'd be refreshed."

Rodgers isn't the only college star to succeed under Tedford.

In stops at Cal, Fresno State and Oregon, Tedford had a hand in the development of Trent Dilfer, Kyle Boller, Joey Harrington, Akili Smith and David Carr -- all of whom went on to become first-round NFL draft picks.

If Tedford can transfer that magic to the NFL level, McCown and the Bucs could surprise as an NFC South title contender this season.